Top 10 Things to Do in Singapore

My friend Dilek recently visited Singapore before flying to Thailand for a Bangkok and Phuket trip. I requested her to compile a to-do-list in Singapore and here is what she has written:

Singapore attracts many visitors, travelers and tourists into the region combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern, affluent city with a tropical climate, with tasty food, and good shopping malls. The culture of Singapore is composed of mainly Chinese, Indian, British, and Malay cultures. There are many things you can do in Singapore. During your first visit, you can start with these top 10 things to do in Singapore.

1. Going to Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. It is located along Marina Bay waterfront with 3 cascading hotel towers, 2,560 rooms, Sands SkyPark, floating crystal pavilions, lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum, shops, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Sands SkyPark offers 360-degree views of Singapore’s skyline. You may buy tickets for Sands SkyPark Observation Deck online http://www.marinabaysands.com/Sands-SkyPark/Tickets/ Observation Desk is open 7 days a week (Mon-Thurs:09:30 am-10:00pm/ Fri-Sun: 09:30 am-11:00pm).
Marina Bay Sands Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Sands SkyPark is on the deck hovering at the top of 3 hotel towers

2. Riding The Singapore Flyer

Standing at 165 meters above the city, The Singapore Flyer is a giant Ferris wheel in Singapore that was constructed between 2005 and 2008. It is located near the shore of Singapore’s Marina Bay. The Flyer’s height is of a 42-storey building  and it is taller than famous London Eye. If you ride on  the world’s tallest observation wheel, you will have chance to catch the magnificent view of Singapore’s iconic and historical landmarks as well as views from the Marina Bay to the Singapore River, Raffles Place, Merlion Park, Empress Place and the Padang.

3. Going to Night Safari

The Night Safari is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore. Actually it is the world’s first nocturnal zoo.(Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by activity during the night and sleeping during the day.) The 40-hectare park houses 1,040 animals representing 120 species, of which 29% are threatened species. The length of visit recommended is 2-3 hours. You may explore the park either walking on foot or riding on the tram. You can purchase your night safari tickets online http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/ Indeed by buying online tickets, you can save around 5%. Just visit Night Safari Park, catch the animals of the Night Safari before they go to sleep.
View from Night Safari Photo by Dileka

4. Visiting Singapore Botanic Gardens

The 150-year old Singapore Botanic Gardens attracts many visitors as well as the local residents. This Gardens has an array of botanical and horticultural attractions with a rich history and a wonderful plant collection of worldwide significance. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 am to 12 midnight every single day of the year. Admission to the Gardens is free except for the National Orchid Garden. There are different sections at the garden. These are National Orchid Garden, Rainforest, Evolution Garden, Ginger Garden, Healing Garden, Botany Center and Tanglin Gate and Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. You can find more than 10,000 types of plants, many heritage trees, and three lakes, namely Symphony Lake, Eco-Lake and Swan Lake. Since there are many sections, you may spend 2-3 or more hours at Singapore Botanic Gardens.

5. Visiting Jurong Bird Park

Another tourist attraction in Singapore is Jurong Bird Park managed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore. Like its motto, it is Where Colour Lives. Jurong Bird Park has an area of 202,000 square meters and it is currently the world’s largest bird park in terms of number of birds, and second largest both in number of bird species and land area. There are 5,000 birds of 380 species in Jurong Bird Park. The park is separated for different exhibitions. These are Waterfall Aviary, Dinosaur Descendants, Birds of Prey, Southeast Asian Birds Aviary, Jungle Jewels, Lory Loft, Hornbills & Toucans, Royal Ramble, Scarlet Ibis, Spoonbills, Penguin Coast,  World of Darkness, Pelican Cove and Parrot Paradise. Don’t be surprised, if you encounter magnificent birds in front of you while you are walking.

6. Going to Sentosa Island

You should visit Sentosa Island definitely. Sentosa is a popular island resort in Singapore and it is visited by some five million people every year. Sentosa offers a variety of attractions, museums and other facilities to provide a variety of experiences, recreation and entertainment to visitors.

7. Being at the Southern Most Point of Continental Asia

While you are in Sentosa Island, do not forget to visit The Southern Most Point of Asia. It stands at the edge of continental Asia right on Palawan Beach at Sentosa Island. It is accessible via a suspension bridge. Actually the bridge has very nice view. After you reach at the Southern Most Point of Continental Asia, you can spend some time for viewing the island.

8. Spending time at the Orchard Road

Visiting and going around Orchard Road is another suggestion. Spanning almost 2.2 kilometer-long, Orchard Road is the retail and entertainment hub of Singapore. Orchard Road is a one-way boulevard including distinctive and iconic shopping malls, restaurants and hotels. It attracts many tourists.

9. Visiting Little India

As its name promises Little India is the center for the large Indian community in Singapore. It is shopping destination for many travelers visiting Singapore. Since in Little India, Singapore, you may have chance to see many spice stores, restaurants, backpacker hostels, art galleries, sari shops and Bollywood record shops. It is known for many festivals and it is one of the most colorful and attractive places to visit in Singapore.

10. Going to Chinatown

Singapore’s Chinatown is an ethnic neighborhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. I’m sure you will enjoy your experience in Chinatown since it is full of many little shops selling everything from plastic Buddhas to the products you name it.  Furthermore, you can purchase souvenirs from Chinatown because it is where the cheapest souvenirs are. Chinatown Heritage Centre is located in Pagoda Street and all buildings are so colorful which provides you with some great photographing opportunities.

British tourist paid 216 Dolars for two sea bass dishes

This week, a letter from a British tourist (George Vickers) made its way to headlines in Singapore. George Vickers and his wife apparently went to Boat Quay for seafood and felt "ripped-off" after paying $216 for 2 sea bass. “We went to Boat Quay for a meal one evening and both of us chose sea bass without asking the price, so we were surprised when we got the bill and found that each fish had cost us $108” he said. “In most countries, the equivalent of $216 for two fish would be considered a rip-off.”

The issue here may seem like the restaurant : they did not warn the customers about the price. But due to the culture in Singapore, the real issue here is that the tourists did not ask for the price. Based on my experience in Singapore, I can say that it is not `appropriate` for a waiter to hint about the prices of expensive dishes. This is thought be considered as an insult, like saying `you may not be able to afford` it. This goes to news one or two times every year : a tourist orders a dish and faces with a super high bill and then argues with the restaurant because he was not informed.

So in Singapore in expensive establishments like the restaurants in Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, try to understand the prices of the expensive looking dishes before ordering them cheerfully. For example some dishes like Alaska crabs can cost more than 500 SGD per crab depending on its weight. No one will warn you because of the reason I have explained. For example a Filipino family on a trip in Singapore faced a bill of $1,186.20 where just the crab alone cost them $707. Their meal on April 26 at Forum Seafood Village Restaurant at Boat Quay also included prawns, a fish and a plate of vegetables.

By the way, the local media went to Boat Quay and tried to understand why a single sea bass costs 100+ SGD there. The reason is simple, rents! A restaurant in Boat Quay pays around 30,000 SGD per month(!) and it is a must to overcharge with these rents.

But do not forget, the real reason behind an exaggerated bill may really be overcharging. For example in a famous case in 2009, a food stall in (overrated) Newton Food Centre charged  a group of American diners a hefty S$239 for eight tiger prawns. The stall's license was suspended after the news went straight into local newspapers and TV.

  

Singapore tourist scams

Scams in Singapore are negligible compared to its South East Asian neighbors but this does not mean that Singapore is a scam free destination for tourists. There are some scams to be aware of and better to avoid to not lose money in an already expensive place.

Singapore Electronics Shop scams in Sim Lim Square and Lucky Plaza
There are various scam tactics employed by shops in Singapore but Sim Lim Square and Lucky Plaza seem to be the place where most scams are executed against tourists. Since an average tourist assumes that Singapore must be scam free, many easily fall in these scams.

"Many shops, particularly those on lower levels selling games, cameras and mobiles, in Sim Lim Square resort to scam tactics to reap higher profits. Unwary shoppers might fall into the traps of unscrupulous sellers." Source : Sim Lim Square

There are many scams the shops in Sim Lim Square and Lucky Plaza employs. One very popular one is to sell an expensive smartphone with "too-good-to-be-true" price and after buyer pays and before he gets the product, he is forced to pay for extras which will make the total price ridiculously higher than the most expensive price of the electronics good you can find. See these articles for common types of scams :  Scams at Sim Lim Square: How to shop smart and Singapore Shop Scam Tactics at Sim Lim and Lucky Plaza.

My advise : Do only buy products from their authorized vendors. i.e. Apple Shops. I would not also buy electronics from Lucky Plaza or Sim Lim Square. Funan Digital Life Mall in City Hall is a better alternative. Or you try Changi Airport, Challenger outlets (there is a large  Challenger Superstore in Funan), Harvey Norman or Courts kind of chain stores. If you really want to shop in Sim Lim Square and Lucky Plaza, shop in the highest floors where more honest business are located.

Taxi Overcharges
Unsuspected tourist may be overcharged by taxi drivers by taking a very long route to their destination. It is wise to have a local smartphone card with 1 GB internet in Singapore Changi Airport and use Google maps and simply Google to locate the destination and a reasonable route.

If you are overcharged, write down the taxi licence plate and report it to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) at 1800-2255582.

Overcharging Restaurants / Hawker Centers
First, I should say that you may be overcharged not because the owner is a scam artist but because of a cultural misunderstanding. Some food like tiger prawns and crab are expensive. When you order one of these, no one will warn you about its price because doing so may be rude (the waiter may think that he/she may be implying that "you cannot afford it").

Airport Chrysler Taxi Cabs
I am not sure this also can be called scam but this is a definite trick in Changi Airport to part you with your money. In the arrival hall taxi stand, there are old men, called "uncle", who direct you to the waiting taxi. Since I am "Ang Mo" they almost always do this to me and probably doing it to almost every visitor : They direct locals to normal cabs and when a tourist comes next, they direct them to a Cryslar Taxi which is waiting there. These limousine taxis are expensive. They cost almost twice on the same route and if you are going to west end of Singapore, the difference really hurts (can be plus 40 SGD!).

If you are not intentionally looking for a limousine taxi, reject the old man's offer by saying "I do not want Cryslar" or "limo". He will immediately direct you to the normal taxi, which was probably the real "next" taxi for you.

I do not know these uncles are getting money from Chryslar taxis but whenever I fly into Singapore (and I travel quite a lot), I am almost always directed to a Cryslar waiting there.

A Chrysler Taxi in Singapore. These cabs are limousine taxis and they are expensive.

 Stand-up fortune teller man a.k.a You are a very lucky man/woman sir/madam scam ...
I could not find a good name for this but this one must be finding a lot of victims because I see the same line and the same type of scam artists regularly since 2006. Indeed yesterday, when I was visiting a friend in Swissotel The Stamford, I have been targeted by two scam artists in the 20 meter radius of this central Singapore hotel.

An Indian or Sikh dude approaches you with almost always the same line : "You are a very lucky man / You are a very lucky woman ...". And without asking permission, he starts to "read you" with probably one of the few lines he picks based on your gender, age and looks. This "casual" fortune telling takes around 5 minutes and then it is followed by a persuading request to donate money to a charity in Nepal / India / somewhere ... He will have a photo book to show you and this donation will be anything above 20 SGD.

Simply avoid them. I believe there are dozens of these guys roaming Singapore for new victims every day.

Singapore Night Life

Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Riverside

One of the most interesting places in Singapore is its Riverside. This area worths visit in the daytime but its true color comes out in the night. Colorful Clarke Quay with its five blocks of restored warehouses houses various restaurants, bars and nightclubs and is one of the most popular Singapore night life spot among locals, tourists and expats. Boat Quay's proximity to Singapore's Central Business District makes it a popular night out location among white collar workers here and  It is the soft front to the composolitian banking and financial sectors lying immediately behind it. There are some nice selection of bars and restaurants along the river.

Around Riverside do not also miss 1 Altitude Bar, the highest al fresco rooftop bar in Asia with the best view of Singapore, City Space at Swissôtel Stamford, a stylish bar on the 70th floor with a stunning view of Singapore and Asia’s first ever prosecco and vodka bar at IndoChine Empress Place (Asian Civilisations Museum).

Singapore Clarke Quay

Chijmes

This historic building complex in Singapore began life as a Catholic convent but today it is one of the most beautiful night life spots in Singapore. It houses more than 20 F&B outlets, themed eateries, casual cafés, hip bars and clubs as well as retail outlets. Its Gothic-style chapel is now available for private functions and weddings and open large lawn spaces and the courtyard of Chijmes are used for various festivals, musical and theatrical shows as well as private events.

Robertson Quay and Zouk

Filled with restaurants, pubs, cafes, condominiums, offices and other recreational facilities as well as a cluster of hotels, Robertson Quay is less touristy and known compared to Clarke Quay and Boat Quay but has a very nice atmosphere and offers a nice night out. This gem of night entertainment located at the furthest reach of the Singapore River offers a tranquil ambience for an intimate dinner by Singapore River or a hip and happening evening to chill out with friends. With its eclectic mix of international restaurants with alfresco dining, wine bars, arts houses, hotel cafes and high class condominiums, Robertson Quay has come into its own with a string of pleasant dining spots that have attracted their own following.

Zouk is one of the oldest and most popular nightclubs in Singapore, the clubs have proven popular with Singapore's party-going crowd and regularly attract performers from all over the world. It is quite near Robertson Quay and a night wine and dine in Robertson Quay can be finalized in this colorful night club.

Zouk Club Singapore

Mohammed Sultan Road
Pub-crawler's paradise Mohammed Sultan Road is a famous Singapore nightlife strip near Singapore's upscale residential area called River Valley. 

Tips to save money during Singapore holiday

Tip #1 - Book your hotel online
Hotels in Singapore are very expensive. Thus it is the first place to save money during a Singapore holiday. By choosing the right hotel, you can really save a lot of money in Singapore.

Room prices at the reception and on the hotel web site are usually more expensive than what you can find online. A better alternative is to look at online hotel reservation sites like Agoda.com but the best is a hotel meta-search engine like hotelscombined.com. These online hotel search engines aggregates price and guest review data from many online reservation sites as well as some hotel web sites and puts them in a simple list from where you can choose the best hotel rates in Singapore (or anywhere indeed).

Tip #2 - Stay in a hotel near MRT Station or major bus lines
Singapore is quite small and its public transportation system allows you to access everywhere quite fast. Singapore's rail system, known as MRT (Mass Rapid Transportation) extensively covers almost everywhere in Singapore.

Instead of staying in a central hotel and paying a fortune to a tiny room, you can simply stay a little outside the Singapore city center in a hotel near MRT Station. As long as you are near an MRT Station you can go significantly out of the central region and save more money.

Tip #3 - Consider staying in a Singapore hostel
Singapore offers many nice hostels offering accomodation from plain-old dorm beds to pod-style or private room twin beds. Some of these hostels are quite luxurious. You can find nice hostels near Chinatown MRT Station.

Tip #4 - Read Wikitravel Singapore Guide
Online open-source travel guide wikitravel has an excellent Singapore Travel Guide which covers almost every topic a tourist will need to know and using it alone will save you tons of money.

Wikitravel Singapore Travel guide is also published as a pocket guide an can be purchased from Amazon: Wikitravel Singapore: The Free, Complete, Up-To-Date And Reliable Guide To Singapore.

Tip #5 - Beware of Singapore scams
There are many tourist complaints about scams in Lucky Plaza of Orchard Road, Sim Lim Square and People Park Complex in Chinatown. A popular scam is to sell you a very cheap smartphone and then force you to buy a very expensive warranty or subscription. If you stay clear away from too good to be true prices you can protect yourself from many scams.

If you are ripped off by a shop do not lick your wound and go away. Call Singapore Tourism Board's free hotline at 1800 736-2000. The Small Claims Tribunal at 1 Havelock Sq also has a special expedited process for tourists that can solve simple cases within 24 hours.

Tip #6 - Buy travel insurance
A visit to hospital in Singapore will be very costly and do not step into the country without a proper travel insurance. Although health system is quite good in the country, an extended stay in a hospital may cost you tens of thousands of dollars if you do not buy that 20+ USD something travel insurance.

Tip #7 - Buy a local SIM Card
Instead of paying a fortune to roaming you can buy simple prepaid SIM cards which are sold in 7-Eleven convenience stores, phone shops and currency exchange counters. All you need is a passport or Singapore ID to sign up.

Since almost everyone in the country has cellphones and prepaid SIM cards are available, number of public phones in the country is declining (but you can still find them in all MRT Stations and in the airport). Having a phone will local card may save a lot of time and money for you. Especially the cards with data plans will allow you use maps, Singapore specific apps (such as bus timings or call-a-taxi apps).

Tip #8 - Eat and Shop in hearthlands
Orchard Road may be the most famous shopping area in Singapore, it is the most expensive and food here is just average. For better service, taste and prices consider visiting malls and hawker centers outside tourist area. These places are less inclined to use hit-and-run sales tactics and more dependent on frequent customers (in a shop in town you’re just another faceless sales target).

Tip #9 - Save money on electronics
Singapore is still a good place to buy electronics if you know what you are doing. If you are planning to buy electronics in Singapore read this article: 5 Money Saving Ways to Buy Electronics in Singapore.

VivoCity - The largest shopping mall in Singapore

Singapore is a country of shopping malls. Every corner of the city-state is occupied by a large shopping mall and in a country which is a shopping addicted Asian tourist magnet and where shopping is almost a national sport, more and more shopping malls are opened. I must admit, in my six years in Singapore, I have also became a shopping mall dweller. Especially after my daughter is born. It is hot and humid outside and not very baby-friendly so you are pushed into these malls anyway.

The largest shopping mall in Singapore is VivoCity and surprisingly this beautiful mall is not in Orchard Road area. It is a waterfront facility in Harbour Front right next to Harbour Front Center. It is also the best shopping mall in Singapore not only for its facilities but also for its surrounding. VivoCity is my favorite among all especially after the opening of Sentosa Boar Walk which allows a nice and sweet walk to Sentosa Island from VivoCity right into Resort Worlds Sentosa.

And of course there are many stores in VivoCity.

For bags and shoes you have ALDO, Bata, Camomilla Milano, Charles & Keith, ck Calvin Klein Accessories, Coach, Crocs, Crumples, DC Shoes, ECCO, Feb 29, Footin, Galleria Italiana, Geox, Gripz, Guess Accessories and Shoes, In:Famous, J West, Kipling, Mitju, Mondo, Pedro, Skechers and STACCATO;

For fashion and fashion accessories Aimer,  A|X Armani Exchange, bebe, Ben Sherman, Benjamin Barker, Bershka, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein Underwear (opening soon), Cotton On, Crocodile, DC Comics Super Heroes, dENiZEN™, Desigual, Domanchi, ESPRIT, Forever 21, Forever New, G2000, GAP, Giordano, H&M, Hang Ten, Hush Puppies, iROO, Joop, Kiss Jane, kitschen, Lacoste, La Senza, Lee Cooper, Levi's, Levi's Lady's, Lowrys Farm, m)phosis, Mango, Man Studio, Mark & Spencer, MDS, Michael Kors (Opening Soon), Miss Selfridge, Morgan de Toi, Mugigae, Natural Project, nichii, Onitsuka Tiger, Pull & Bear, Rare Attitude, Red2, Springfield, Spring Maternity, Tally Weijl, TANGS, Ted Baker, Timberland, T.M.Lewin, Tommy Hilfiger, Topshop/Topman, UNIQLO, Warehouse and Zara;

Jewellery and watches:  C Square of City Chain, Casio G-Factory, CITIGEMS, City Chain, Dejewel Galleria, Emporio Armani Watches & Jewelry, Goldheart, Invicta, Love & Co., SEIKO, Sincere Fine Watches, SK Jewellery, Solvil et Titus, Soo Kee Jewel Pavilion, The Diamond Atelier, Watches of Switzerland and ZAPWatches.

There are many food outlets, restaurants and fast food chain stores as well as food courts in VivoCity. Some restaurants I like here are Brotzeit® German Bier Bar & Restaurant (German and European food and superb imported German beer), La Viva Spanish Tapas & Bar (have a lovely view of Sentosa Bay), PUTIEN (winner of the Best Chinese Restaurant and listed in Singapore's best 50 restaurants) and Poulet (French cuisine).

Other restaurants in VivoCity includes Akashi Japanese Restaurant (popular Reserve California Roll (vinegared rice envelopes the seaweed skin) and the King Prawn Grilled with Miso are must try), BeiShanChuan Spicy Steamboat Restaurant, Korea's leading chain of authentic BBQ restaurants BORNGA, Bosses, Central, Crystal Jade Dining IN, Crystal Jade Jiang Nan, Dian Xiao Er, etc.

Entertainment in VivoCity
Golden Village VivoCity (GV Vivocity) is has 15 screens under one roof and 4 cinema types across 2 floors. GV VivoCity sets a new benchmark for multiplexes in Singapore by introducing a sophisticated club ambience, with a 5-star food and beverage menu available (including a top wine list) and a private dining room. VivoCity also has a karaoke club Party World KTV and for gaming Timezone.

How to get to VivoCity?
VivoCity has direct underground connection to Purple Line's (NorthEast Line's) HarbourFront Station. If you are coming from Green Line you need to transfer at Outram Park. Do not take Harbour Front direction on Circle Line if you are in the city center. That is a big loop around the central and western Singapore to Harbour Front. Take Purple Line.

There are also many bus services going to VivoCity:  10, 30, 30e, 57, 61, 65, 80, 97, 97e, 100, 131, 143, 145, 166 and 855.

Hotels Near VivoCity
There are several hotels near VivoCity. Bay Hotel Singapore is the nearest hotel to VivoCity and is also a very good alternative for those who want to stay near Sentosa Island but do not want to pay for the expensive hotels on the island. Hotels of Resort World Sentosa such as Hard Rock Hotel, Hotel Michael and Festive Hotel are also quite near with a monorail ride away. If you are staying on Sentosa Island, VivoCity is the best shopping mall for you.

Inside Singapore Video Travel Guide August 2013 with Jamie Yeo

TTV's "Inside Singapore" provides information about Singapore to guests staying in hotels in Singapore. Hosted by gorgeous Jamie Yeo these are basically video version of a tourist magazine, with the show providing an insider's guide to Singapore's attractions, dining, shopping, nightlife, events and transportation.

The latest video, INSIDE Singapore | August 2013 with Jamie Yeo is online in YouTube where Jamie Yeo starts the show from Mount Faber. The video is a quite compact and nice introduction of Singapore to tourists and is a nice where to eat/club/dine and shop guide.

Here are some tips from the show:

• While at Clarke Quay check out the PumpRoom, Fern & Kiwi, Coriander Leaf, Le Noir, Attica for great nightlife, Royal Selangor and a host of other bars and restaurants.
• When on Sentosa you must try The Luge, Megazip, Wave House, Go Green Segway, Universal Studios, iFly or just chill on the Beach at the Tanjong Beach Club. Take advantage of the Sentosa Play Pass.
• There are a host of Museums in Singapore such as the Art Science Museum, Asian Civilisations Museum and National Museum of Singapore.
• Want to try Something different, check out Ultimate Drive. Grab yourself a Ferrari F430 F1 Spider, or a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and drive the world famous F1 Street Circuit.
• You can't go past Paragon, Scotts Square and Hilton Gallery when it comes to shopping in Singapore.
• When it comes top dining the Singapore is the place for you. Whether it's the Hawker food at Newton Circus or La Pau Sat through to some of our favourites such as Level33, Pollen, 1-Altitude, Esquina, Keong Saik Snacks, the Screening Room, Crystal Jade, or the all-day breakfasts at Wild Honey -- you will never be short of food choices in Singapore.

Here is the YouTube channel for Insider TV. You know Jamie Yeo from ESPN/Star Sports Castrol Football Crazy and Maxis Football Extra television shows in Asia. In Singapore she is famous for portraying Tammy in the TV show Growing Up. You can watch July 2013 version of this Singapore Travel Guide here: INSIDE Singapore | July 2013 with Jamie Yeo. 

Singapore Flyer ticket prices

Singapore Flyer is a 165 meter observation wheel in Singapore which offers an unobstructed bird-eye view of  Singapore city center. Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest observation wheel. Although it does not have the best bird-eye view in the town, it definitely has the most complete. Everything including the Marina Bay Sands casino complex and city landmarks such as the skyscrapers of the Singapore Business District, Esplanade, Fullerton Hotel, etc. are in the view.

 Singapore Flyer opening hours are from 8.30 am to 10.30 pm daily and the last entry is at 10.15 pm. You can simply take a Singapore Flight by the flyer where you can experience panoramic views of the Singapore landscape, Singapore Sling Flight (Singapore Flight + a glass of original Singapore Sling), Signature Cocktail Flight (Singapore Flight + a specially concocted cocktail), Moët & Chandon Champagne Flight (Singapore Flight + champagne).

Other than conventional flights, the Flyer also offers special flights like Full Butler Sky Dining and High Tea Flight.

Singapore Flyer Ticket Prices

Below are Singapore Flight ticket prices:
Adult Ticket S$33,
Senior Citizen Ticket S$24.00,
Child Ticket S$21 (3 to 12 years old) and
Family Combo S$78.

Below are ticket prices for special flights:
Singapore Sling Flight -  Adult: S$69.00 Child: S$31.00
Signature Cocktail Flight - Adult: S$69.00 Child: S$31.00
Moët & Chandon Champagne Flight - Adult: S$69.00

Singapore Jurong Bird Park Ticket Prices

Singapore Jurong Bird Park is one of the most renowned bird sanctuaries with some of the largest free-flying aviaries in the world. The park is Asia’s largest bird park with a collection of more than 5,000 birds across 380 species. One of the most famous attraction in the park is The African Waterfall Aviary which is the world's largest walk-in aviary with more than 1,500 free-flying birds from over 50 species. Visitors may hop aboard the Panorail, the world's only monorail that runs through an aviary. Jurong Falls, which is located within the African Waterfall Aviary, is the world's tallest man-made waterfall in an aviary at 30 metres high. Species include Golden-breasted Starling, turacos, and the hoopoe.

Some of the attractions in the Jurong Bird Park are High Flyers Show, Birds of Prey Show, Wetlands, Flightless Birds, Southeast Asian Birds Aviary and Pelican Cove.

Singapore Jurong Bird Park opening hours are between 8.30 am and 6.00 pm with last ticket sale at 5.30 pm.

Singapore Jurong Bird Park Map

Singapore Jurong Bird Park ticket prices
Jurong Bir Park entrance fee is 20 Singapore Dollars per adult, 13 SGD per child and 10 SGD per senior citizen (Senior Citizen admission only applicable for Singaporean or Singapore PR aged 60 and above).

Singapore Jurong Bird Park Admission Fee
Per Adult	Per Child (3 - 12 years old)	Per Senior Citizen
$20.00	$13.00	$10.00

You can also buy a 2-in-1 Park Hopper ticket which offers discount on both tickets. Singapore Zoo + Night Safari tickets are $49 per adult and  $32 per child. Singapore Zoo + Jurong Bird Park tickets are $39 per adult and  $26 per child. These hopper tickets will save you $13 per adult and $7-8 per child.

For those who want Singapore Zoo + Night Safari + Jurong Bird Park, you can buy 3-in-1 Park Hopper for $69 per adult (saves $18) and $46 per child (saves $10).

Park Hopper entitles you to one visit per park within 30 days from the date of purchase of ticket. You may visit each park on a different day.

Singapore Night Safari ticket prices

Opened in 1994, Singapore Night Safari is the world’s first safari park for nocturnal animals. Today, the award-winning park welcomes more than 1.1 million visitors a year. The star attraction of the Night Safari experience is a guided tram ride that takes visitors across 7 geographical zones of the world. But the real deal is to explore this magnificent rain forest zoo through walking trails to see more animals not visible from the tram journey. One of Night Safari’s most popular trails,the Leopard Trail is where you will see the largest collection of wildlife indigenous to Southeast Asia, along with the small- and medium-size cats of Asia. This trek also takes you through two spectacular walk-through habitats for an up close encounter with some very special free-ranging animals that like to take to the air.

Night Safari opening hours are between 07:30 pm and 12:00 pm. Many visit Singapore Zoo in the day time and go into Night Safari in the night time but this can be quite tiring. We recommend to spend a daytime in Singapore Zoo and another day's night in the Night Safari. There are many things to see and it is best to walk in both wild life parks.

Singapore Night Safari Map

Singapore Night Safari ticket prices

Singapore Night Safari entrance fee is 35 Singapore Dollars per adult, 23 SGD per child and 17.5 SGD per senior citizen (Senior Citizen admission only applicable for Singaporean or Singapore PR aged 60 and above).

Singapore Night Safari Tickets Admission Fee
Per Adult	Per Child (3 - 12 years old)	Per Senior Citizen
$35.00	$23.00	$17.5

If you are planning to visit Singapore Zoo and Night Safari together like most do, it is better to buy a 2-in-1 Park Hopper ticket which offers discount on both tickets. Singapore Zoo + Night Safari tickets are $49 per adult and  $32 per child..

For those who want Singapore Zoo + Night Safari + Jurong Bird Park, you can buy 3-in-1 Park Hopper for $69 per adult (saves $18) and $46 per child (saves $10).

Park Hopper entitles you to one visit per park within 30 days from the date of purchase of ticket. You may visit each park on a different day.

Singapore Zoo ticket prices

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Singapore Zoo is one of the best Zoos in the world and one of the best tourist attraction Singapore offers to its visitors. Nested on 26-hectare wildlife park within the lush Mandai rainforest stretching into a magnificent reservoir, Singapore Zoo hosts more than 2,800 animals representing over 300 species of mammals, birds and reptiles.

One of the unique features of Singapore Zoo, which differentiates it from others, is its approach to displaying animals: Singapore Zoo follows the modern trend of displaying animals in naturalistic, 'open' exhibits with hidden barriers, moats, and glass between the animals and visitors. Animals are kept in spacious, landscaped enclosures separated from the visitors by either dry or wet moats. The moats are concealed with vegetation or dropped below the line of vision. Dangerous animals that can climb well are housed in landscaped glass-fronted enclosures.

One of the star attractions of Singapore Zoo are White tigers because of their rarity and uncommon beauty. With their blue eyes, pink noses, and creamy white fur covered with brown stripes, these giant cats are truly a cat-tivating sight!

Singapore Zoo opening hours are between 8.30 am and 6.00 pm and there are many things to see and do. So try to be there as early as possible.

Singapore zoo map

Singapore Zoo ticket prices
Singapore Zoo entrance fee is 22 Singapore Dollars per adult, 14 SGD per child and 11 SGD per senior citizen (Senior Citizen admission only applicable for Singaporean or Singapore PR aged 60 and above).

Singapore Zoo Tickets Admission Fee
Per Adult	Per Child (3 - 12 years old)	Per Senior Citizen
$22.00	$14.00	$11.00

If you are planning to visit Singapore Zoo and Night Safari like most do, it is better to buy a 2-in-1 Park Hopper ticket which offers discount on both tickets. Singapore Zoo + Night Safari tickets are $49 per adult and  $32 per child. Singapore Zoo + Jurong Bird Park tickets are $39 per adult and  $26 per child. These hopper tickets will save you $13 per adult and $7-8 per child.

For those who want Singapore Zoo + Night Safari + Jurong Bird Park, you can buy 3-in-1 Park Hopper for $69 per adult (saves $18) and $46 per child (saves $10).

Park Hopper entitles you to one visit per park within 30 days from the date of purchase of ticket. You may visit each park on a different day.

See also How to get to Singapore Zoo?

1-Altitude Gallery offers best view of Singapore

We have written about 1-Altitude before. The rooftop bar here is the place I take my guests to see Singapore from above instead of more known observation points such as Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck or Singapore flyer. I did not know that the very same place also operates as an observation point under the name of 1-Altitude Gallery.

1-Altitude Gallery stands at the peak of 282 meters and boasts a spectacular 360-degree bird-eye view of Singapore. It is at the top of the highest building in Singapore : 1 Raffles Place (formerly known as UOB Center). Since this skyscraper is on the middle of Singapore city center, it provides a great view of many locations of interest and monuments in Singapore such as Chinatown, Raffles Hotel, Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, Padang, etc.

The view from 1-Altitude is unrivaled. It is at the highest possible point, much higher than Singapore Flyer and MBS Observation Deck. And because the building is triangle shaped and there are 3 sides, each point provides a very wide viewing angle on the gallery.

1-Altitude Gallery visit is a must if you visit Singapore. You may probably have done nothing like this before: Looking at a very beautiful city center from that above.

1-Altitude Gallery

1-Altitude Gallery Ticket Prices and Visit Times
The ticket price depends on the time of visit. Between 08:00 AM - 5:29 PM, the visit costs 25 SGD per person. From 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, the ticket costs 40 SGD. After 05:30 PM, the location is used as a bar and visitors will be given a complimentary mocktail.

For kids below 5 years of age, the entry is free.

While you are there, also note that 1-Altitude is not just an observation deck. It offers a restaurant named Stellar on 62nd floor, 1-Altitude Gallery & Bar (level 63) and 282 & CityGolf (Level 61).

Singapore YMCA Hotel

It is really difficult to find a cheap hotel in Singapore's over-priced hotel market. It gets more difficult to find a cheap hotel, "cheap" here is of course relatively cheap, in the central area. There are some cheaper options compared to the other very high priced hotels.

Sitting in the middle of the Orchard Road, where hotel prices are the highest in Singapore, 3 star Singapore YMCA Hotel offers a mid range accommodation which falls into almost budget hotel room category in the city state. The building is relatively old but do not judge a hotel with its facade. The facilities are renovated and the rooms are comfortable. But since as a budget hotel with great value for money and very good location, it is highly sought after so you need to book really in advance to find an empty room in the hotel.

YMCA International House Hotel on Orchard Road is one of the best hotel choices in Singapore which offers great value for money for almost all type of leisure or business travelers. There are student beds in a dormitory setting for students (the hotel is right next to Singapore Management University, Chicago School of Business and some other private schools), superior deluxe, family suites and junior suites.

Young man there's a place to go in Singapore ...
It's fun to stay at Y-M-C-A :)

Singapore YMCA Hotel is very family friendly and its family suites are first to consider for travelers with kids and tight budget. There are two room sizes to choose for families: a smaller room capable of hosting up to three people and a larger one housing a maximum of four. The Superior (Single / Twin) rooms goes around 150 USD per night while family deluxe goes for around 175 USD per night (as we have said, relatively cheap!). If you would like a student dormitory bed, it is around 32 USD per night.

YMCA offers a very comfortable stay, great location (in central Orchard Road area) and amenities around. It is very near to central business district, 2 MRT Stations (Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station and Bras Basah MRT Stations), several budget eateries such as food courts (Plaza Singapura near this hotel has a very nice Food Court). The hotel also provides a rooftop swimming pool and a gym.

There is a Coffee Shop on the premises, which serves all meals including value-for-money set meals.You can also eat near the hotel. There are several eateries in the SMU buildings, in Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station and in Plaza Singapura which is less than 10 minutes walk away from the hotel. You can discover Orchard Road on foot from the hotel and some central attractions like Fort Canning Park, Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, National Museum of Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum and Chijmes (a Neo-Classical style building which houses some of Singapore’s most exciting dining and entertainment venues) are very near.

Some other central budget hotels near by

Victoria Hotel Singapore	Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen Hotel	Fort Canning Lodge

The Night Safari

The Night Safari, the world's first nocturnal zoo, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore and one of the handful of activities you can only do in Singapore. The Night Safari is basically an open air zoo in a humid tropical forest that is only open at night. There are 8 geographical regions linked via 4 walking trails and tram route. You will discover how active are all those sleepy predators, like lions and tigers, in the night.

Night Safari opens at 07:30 pm and lasts until midnight. Go there early and take the walking trails after taking the tram. Walking is the real deal in this experiment and you would like to enjoy it all night. But before tram or walking, watch the Thumbuakar Performance at the entrance. This is a fire show featuring fire-eating, acrobatic and roaring performers displaying dance, scorching stunts and blowpipe of fire! The show is featured at 07:00 pm, 8:00 pm and 09:00 pm. It is best to go to Night Safari before 07:00 pm and watch this show before starting the night safari experience inside. Inside watch the 07:30 pm show of Creatures of The Night Show and start your tram and walking experience.

How to go to Night Safari? 

You can take MRT (Singapore subway system);

• to Ang Mo Kio MRT station and then board bus 138 from Ang Mo Kio bus interchange,
• to Choa Chu Kang MRT Station and board Bus 927,
• to Woodlands or Marsiling MRT station and board bus 926 (this is currently only available on Sundays and public holidays)

 How much is Night Safari Ticket?


The adult admission fee is 32 SGD per adult and childs can enjoy 21 SGD per kid. These fees include one round of tram ride. There is also a Park Hopper Special ticket which will buy you visit to 3 parks: Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo. It is 58 SGD per adult and 38 SGD per child. Check Night Safari's web site for details.

Experience

Night Safari, like Singapore Zoo, is fence-less which gives an impression that there is nothing between you and that asian elephant whose giant silhouette greets you when you just turn a corner. Animals, especially the predators are very active in the night so it is very exiting to visit lions, tigers and leopards. There are rooms near these animals with a mirror wall. If you are lucky you can catch a tiger just next to you. In the night, you cannot see the mirror so you will feel like you are just right next to a tiger and there is no barrier with you. But either they do not know you are there or they do not care, so they wont try to attack to mirror wall. As I have mentioned before go there early and after taking a tram ride walk. Walk all the night in all trails in the night of Singapore's tropical forest. It is really a very good experience especially for the kids.

Clouded Leopards - Source :  Night Safari Singapore

Attractions


Leopard Trail, is the walking trail where you can observe clouded leopards, hog badgers, malay civets and otters and giant flying squirrel (walk through dome and Mangrove Walk). 


Fishing Cat Trail, takes it name from the main attraction, fishing cats. You can also see fruit bats and mousedeers on this trail.

Forest Giants Trail, has one of the few untouched pockets of Singapore's rain forest. You can see 100+ years old trees and animals like giant river toads, centipedes and cave racer snakes here.

East Lodge Trail, mimics equatorial Africa and you can see spotted hyena, one of the most fearsome predators of Africa.

Creatures of The Night Show, is performed at 07:30 pm, 08:30 pm, 09:30 pm and 10:30 pm (this last one is only on Friday, Saturday and eve of public holidays). This is an half an hour show of star animals like bingturongs, otters, racoons, wolwes, hyenas, etc. If you have kids with you this is a must. If not, it still worth watching.

For those who can afford, and care to pay, there are personalized adventure tours on a special buggy. It costs 120 SGD per adult and 80 SGD per kid for The Classic Tour of 3 hours including guided trail walks and reserved seats at The Creatures of The Night Show. The Premium Tour costs 180 SGD per adult and 120 SGD per kid and includes additional trails and close-up encounters with animals on the top of The Classical Tour.    

Shop Tax Free In Singapore

If you are a visitor to Singapore, you can get the full refund of the 7 per cent Goods & Services Tax (GST) that you have paid on the goods you are bringing back with you. How to shop tax free in Singapore? Most shops in Singapore are affiliated with one of two GST refund service providers: Premier Tax Free or Global Blue Tax Free. They display signs of these companies at their entrance (see image below). When you buy something from these shops, you can refund GST for it, if you are a visitor to Singapore. But do not forget to ask the salesperson for a Global Blue Tax Free Refund Cheque or a Premier Refund Voucher when you make a purchase of 100 Singapore Dollars or above. In Singapore, there are shops not affiliated with either agency but still having their own GST refund schemes. Ask the salesperson how the GST refund works for them because the minimu purchase amount for GST will vary from shops to shops.

When departing from Singapore Changi Airport present your Global Blue Tax Free Refund Cheque or Premier Refund Voucher, the goods you have bought and original receipts, your passport and travel documents to Singapore Customs GST Refund Inspection counter for endorsement. After you have obtained Singapore Customs’ endorsement on your refund application, you can proceed to the counter of Global Blue Refund or Premier Tax Free if you are holding Global Refund Cheque or Premier Tax Free Voucher for refund of the money.  These counters are located in the Departure Lounge after immigration.  If you have purchased from a retailer operating the scheme on his own, please mail the refund form back to the retailer to process the refund of the money.[1]

Tax Free Shopping Signs in Singapore

There are also GST refund locations in Singapore:

• Funan Digitalife Mall
• Wisma Atria (Orchard Road)
• Sim Lim Square
• Centrepoint Shopping Centre (Orchard Road)

There are some restrictions on GST refund. For example, you cannot refund items partially or fully consumed in Singapore. Maximum amount you can refund is restricted to 500 SGD (7140 SGD worth of goods purchased) per person. And unfortunately, you cannot reclaim GST if you are leaving Singapore by land or cruise.
[1] Tourist Refund Scheme

In Transit in Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport is one of the best and busiest aviation hub in the world. Since its opening it sets benchmarks in service excellence. Just in 2009 alone, it has received 27 "best" awards. This airport has many facilities and is one of the best airport for in transit services.

Many people fly to this airport just to connect to another flight. Some wait only few hours but many waits for longer. Luckily, the airport offers a lot of services to help transit passengers to refresh and fill their waiting time with fun. All these services are behind the immigration check point so you do not need to pass through immigration.

For example if you have time, you can take a quick shower in one of the transit lounges of Terminal 1, Terminal 2 or Terminal 3. If you need to wait 3 to 4 hours, you can even play FREE Xbox 360 and PlayStation® 3 games at the Entertainment Deck. If you need to wait more than 4 hours you can swim in Changi's roof top swimming pool (14 SGD if you are not staying in the transit hotel) or catch a movie in the  free movie theater.

If you are transferring and the transfer time is more than 5 hours, you can take a 2 hours free Singapore tour. But these tours requires you to clear the customs and your ability to take one depends on your visa requirements to enter Singapore. Or you can simply chose to take a nap during this time. All 3 terminals of Changi Airport offers resting areas or Changi Transit Hotel.

But you should note that if you arrive to Budget Terminal, this terminal's transit area does not have access to main 3 terminals and their in transit services. Not all budget airliners use budget terminals so if you need transit facilities, check the airliners termnial in Changi Airport.

For more information visit Singapore Changi International Airport In Transit web pages.   

Best Free Singapore Travel Guide

The best free Singapore travel guide out there in the internet is the Singapore article of wikitravel. For those have not heard about it, Wikitravel is simply the wikipedia of travel. It is a web-based guide, built through collaboration of Wikitravellers from around the globe. Based upon the wiki model, it is launched by Evan Prodromou and Michele Ann Jenkins in 2003.

Wikitravel Singapore article is a star article. It is a high-quality article complete with maps, photos, and great information about Singapore. Star articles are the best travel guides Wikitravel has to offer.

Wikitravel Singapore article available free online

Other than the main article, there are also two special guides in wikitravel about Singapore: Three days in Singapore and Southern Ridges Walk. Three days in Singapore is a guide to see the sights of Singapore in three days and The Southern Ridges Walk is about a nine-kilometer stroll across the hills of southern Singapore.


For those who want to carry this guide in their pockets, "Wikitravel Singapore: The Free, Complete, Up-To-Date And Reliable Guide To Singapore" is also available. This guide has comprehensive coverage of Singapore's culinary delights, up-to-date info on Singapore's nightlife, handy city maps with attractions marked and features a detailed three-day sample itinerary. It is built by wikitravelers, this Singapore guide is revised from top to bottom every month by wikitravel editorial team, so it always has the latest information.